OfferBackedBuyer Tools
Step 1 · Thinking about buying

Where are towns like the one I love?

Enter a town you like, or the one you’re leaving, and find the places most like it: similar incomes, home prices, commute, age of homes and more. Look nearby, in other states or only where homes cost less.

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Towns most like Loda, IL 60948

Loda: median income $106,250, home value $229,600, $142/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Nova, OH 44859 95%303$88,750$209,100$144 Very close on everything we compare
Darien Center, NY 14040 93%526$88,779$210,100$141 Very close on everything we compare
Rosendale, WI 54974 93%227$97,222$263,600$172 pricier homes ($34K more)
Hookstown, PA 15050 92%402$91,406$209,800$134 Very close on everything we compare
Tornado, WV 25202 92%366$96,328$198,600$122 cheaper homes ($31K less) · younger residents
Stilesville, IN 46180 92%99$90,208$228,600$168 smaller
Dansville, MI 48819 92%241$110,833$254,500$156 larger
Hatley, WI 54440 92%304$90,921$222,700$148 larger
Junction City, WI 54443 92%294$99,423$279,400$135 pricier homes ($50K more)
Somerville, OH 45064 91%195$102,531$240,200$152 larger
Waldron, IN 46182 91%148$89,567$254,300$146 Very close on everything we compare
Springville, IA 52336 91%204$91,458$225,300$179 Very close on everything we compare
Thompson, OH 44086 90%375$92,143$289,100$187 pricier homes ($60K more)
Sharpsville, IN 46068 90%105$98,708$189,700$154 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Claypool, IN 46510 90%123$99,420$208,300$177 larger
Sherrill, IA 52073 90%202$95,526$297,400$128 pricier homes ($68K more)
Sedley, VA 23878 89%652$87,077$219,900$174 Very close on everything we compare
West Mansfield, OH 43358 89%240$89,121$218,600$133 Very close on everything we compare
Diamond, OH 44412 89%371$102,726$282,300$168 pricier homes ($53K more) · larger
Laura, OH 45337 89%198$108,162$228,700$155 younger residents
Amboy, IN 46911 89%113$95,122$209,300$135 6 min shorter commute
Flat Rock, IN 47234 89%146$101,708$199,800$148 cheaper homes ($30K less) · younger residents
Hope, MI 48628 89%297$93,854$215,600$135 Very close on everything we compare
Casco, WI 54205 89%281$90,781$252,900$140 younger residents
Rollingstone, MN 55969 89%312$94,444$291,800$157 pricier homes ($62K more)

Similarity compares income, home value, price per sq ft, population, age, commute, education, walkability, owner share, single-family share and age of homes. Click a town to see its housing market. Set your own criteria with the town finder.

Finding towns like the one you love

Maybe you grew up somewhere you loved and want something like it closer to a new job. Maybe the town you want is out of reach and you’re looking for a cheaper version of it. Or you’re moving across the country and want to know which places will feel familiar. This tool starts from a town you know and finds the places most like it.

How we measure similarity

We compare eleven things for every ZIP code: median household income, median home value, price per square foot from recent sales, population, median age, average commute, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree, walkability, the share of homes that are owner-occupied, the share that are single-family homes, and the median year homes were built. Income and home values count most, because they shape what a place costs and feels like day to day.

Each trait is put on the same scale, so a $50,000 difference in home value and a five-minute difference in commute can be compared fairly. The result is a similarity score: towns in the 90s are close matches on nearly everything, and scores in the 70s are similar with a few clear differences. For each match we list the biggest differences, like cheaper homes, a longer commute or more single-family homes.

Where to look

  • Anywhere shows the closest matches nationwide.
  • Same state or other states keeps the search where you need it.
  • Within a distance finds alternatives near a town you’re priced out of.
  • At least a distance away finds the same kind of place somewhere new.

Tick “only towns where homes cost less” to find more affordable versions of the place you like.

What it can’t tell you

Numbers can’t capture everything that makes a place feel like home: a walkable downtown, the schools, the views or the people. Use the matches as a short list, then visit. Click any town to see its housing market, including how competitive it is and how fast homes are selling.